Hand brake



Aug. 14, i928. ll@

v J. F. ocoNNoR HAND BRAK E Original Filed Jam 5, 1923 llllllllillllllll' ll| It Ti f). /Ail Patented Ang. 14, '1928.

Join F'. of'ooiniort, or marcado, iLL'rnoIs,

w. n. Minn-ln', Inc., A oonronnrro'iv 'or 'nnmrwnnn HAND BRAKE.

Application filed January 5, 1923,-Sera1 No. 610,754. Renewed February 16, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in hand brakes.

One objectl of the 'invention is to provide a simple. and eiiicient hand brake, wherein means is provided for rap-idly taking upthe slack in the brake; chain, and subsequently increasing the ratio Aof leverage to exert greater forces in the final application of the brakes.

Another. andY more specific object of the invention is to vprovide a hand brake, of the vertical `staff type, wherein automatically operative means for multiplying the leffective ratio oli leverage ofthe -brakemecha- F nism is inter osed lin the connections betweenthe brake sta' and the brake mechanism proper.y

11, rigidly securedrthereto.

A vertical brake staff 12 ,l is rotatably mounted inthe end sill 10,-and has itslower reduced end 13 journaled in the horizontal portion 14 of the stirrup 11. At theup'per ,end the brake staii `12 isprovided with the usual hand wheel 15, rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner. vThe brake staff-12 is also provided with' the usual ratchet member 16, rigidly secured` thereto, and coacting with aj locking pawl 17 pivoted on the end'sill 10 by a pivot-bolt pin 18.

The horizontal'portion 14 of the stirrup is provided with a bifu'rcated extension 19, comprising a pair of inwardly and downwardly extending arms' 20, terminating in upwardly linclined ends 2,1.

Each of the arms 20is cut away at theouter side as indicated at22'to provide inwardly extendingY slightly upwardly inclined shoulders 23, in alinement with andforming a continuation of the face of inclined end 21.

the corresponding .swine in a vertical lane.

Each of the4 arms 2 5 comprises a short straight portion 27 `and a relatively long portion 28 extending upwardlyat an angle thereto. Between the arms Varejournaled a pair of sheave wheels 29 and 30, the sheave Iwheel 29being mounted on a pin 31 extending through the arms25 near thevupper ends thereof, and the sheave wheel 3() being mounted on a pin 32 extending through said arms at a point near thegbend thereof. ,The arms 25 are thusheld in spaced relation by the sheave wheels 29 `and 30 and by extending on opposite sides of the out away portion of the bifurcation 19. Saidarms' are held together bythe respectivepins V2G, 31 and 32 thereby formingin effect, a single lever 24. The sheave wheel30Mhas its ianges provided withnratchetteeth 33 for a purpose herein- Vafter described,

AA brake chain34 having) one end connected to the brake mechanism proper, passes over the ytop o f the sheave wheel 30,y partly around the same,'and'vfroni the sheave wheel 30 over the Asheave wheel 29, to the brake staff 12, to which it is securedby the eye bolt 3,5, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 1 and3, the chain 34 is fixedly lsecuredpto thepsheave wheel 30 by a U-shapedanchorbolt 36, `passing through a link of the chain. y A Y`vgravity controlled locking pawl 37, which adapted to co-act with the ratchet `teeth oithe` sheave wheel 30, is pivoted be- .tweenV the arms 20 on the pin 2G. The engaging end of the pawl 37 is bifurcated as indicated at38, and provided with a pair or' laterally' projecting teeth 39, each of which is adapted to engage with a corresponding set of ratchet teeth of the sheavc Wheel 3 0.` The opposite end of the pawl 37 is provided with an singularly projecting Vtailpiece 40, extending to one side of the `pivot and normally engaging with a stop shoulder 41, formed by a web 42 connecting' thearms 20.

In the normal position of' the parts, when the brakes are fully released, the lower edges 43 of the arms 2O are adapted to rest upon the shoulders 23,'and the lover 24 is thus-supported in full lineposition shown in' Fig. 1, andthe pawl 37 is held in spaced relation with reference to the ratchet teeth of the sheave wheel 30 by the tail 40 thereof engagingfwith the shoulder 41.

In the operation of my improved hand lou ill

brake, the parts are normally in the position shownV in tull lines in Fig. l with the pawl 37 disengaged from the ratchet teeth o1' the sheave wheel 30. Upon rotation otA the hand wheel l5 in a direction to apply the brakes,`

the stati4 l2 will be rotated in a dii'ection to` wind the chain 34 thereon, thereby taking up the slack in the brake mechanism and V pulling the chain over the sheave wheels 30 and 29. During this operation the lever 24 Awill remain in its lower position, supported l direction corresponding to the movement .O

the chain during the release of the brakes, will be prevented. Alfter engagement oli' the pawl with the teeth ofthe shea've wheel 30, the saine will be swung upwardly in unison with the lever, until the lever 24 reaches the positionV where thel brakes are 'fully set, holding the sheave wheel locked against rotation inY said direction. lIt is, of course, obvious, that when the brake has been set, the p'awl 17 and ratchet 16 will lock the brakes in tightened position in a usual and well known manner.

The movement of the lever 2li remains 'substantially constant regardless of the Wear on the brake shoes and other parts ofthe brake mechanism, due tothe tact vthat no movement ot'th'e lever occurs until after the Vshit-.kin the chain and other parts of the brake mechanism has been taken up. VThe take-np is at its minimum when'the wheels, shoes and other parts of the brake mechanisin are new, and gradually increase until renewal ot the parts must be made', but this variation iu take-up obviously has no effect on the thi-ow ot the lever 2a in the'inal application of the brakes. Vas the same does Vnot become operable until the slack has been Vi'fully taken up Vand the shoes have been brought snugly against the Wheels.' The Y dotted line position otthe lever 24 in Fig.

l of the drawing illustrates the approximate position thereof, when the brakes are 'fully set.

From the precedonoi description taken in connection with the drawing, itis evident that there is a differential movement between. the opposite ends of the chain and' that the leverage ratio is `greatly multiplied dui'- ing the final application of thebraking pressure,V due to the fact that diiringthe upward swinging movement of the lever 24 'toward the nrakestatl1- l2, the sheave 29 will approach the stall at a greater rate of speed than the sheavet), thereby causing, aslower pull on that `portion ot'thechain extending from the brake mechanism proper to` the slicave wheel 30, than on the portion of theV chain extending from theV slieavewlieel29 thebrake'stailV i V Upon release oi the brakes, the pull on that portion ofthe chain. 34; extending 'roin the' brake-mechanism proper, to theV sheave wheel -30 will lirst 4oausei a swinging movement of the lever 24;, away from the staii' 12,'untilthe center ofk mass 'of the lever is displaced a suliicient-distance vwhereupon the torce otgravity will also act to ijeturn'the v level' to normal position.- ilie initiating `movement of the lever away troni the stair' is assuredby the lockingiengagement of the Y pawl 3T with the teeth 39 ot' the sheave 3l), thereby preveiitnig rotation'ot' the sheave vwheel `until the 'lever 24@ hasfapproximately reached its Vlowermostl position, whereupon the pawl is disengagedrom,the'teeth ofthe sheave wheel by beii'igvarrested'in its'inoveV nient away from thestattl2,l by tliertail piece thereotl contacting withthe stop shoulder Lll. rlhe anchoring of thefehainto the sheave wheel '80-'prevents slippage of thel chain over the sheave wheel While the `pa'wl 3T isin vlocking engagement therewith 4and thereby positively assures kthe vmovement of beginning of thereleasingrot the brakes.

"Ifhave herein shown and-,described what l new consider` apre'terred manner ofvcarrying out my inveiitionjbut the same is'merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes Vand modifications that come within the scopeV otelains appended hereto.-

y l.' ln a 'hand brake, including a brakeehain, the eombinationwitha vertical brake statt; ot" a lever vpivot-ally monntedbetween said stati and the brake mechanism proper and chain guiding meansA on s'aidlever, said chain guiding means con'iprisinga pair ot radially spaced sheaves, said chainV connected and passing over 'said sheaves.

2. In a hand 4brake mechanism,thev coni- -at its ends to said statt and-brake vmechanism Vbinationrwith a chain' winding means; of a lever pivoted at one end; slie'ave wheel rotatably mounted at the freeV end lof said lever; a second sheave wheel rotatably mounted, ,betweenV the ends of said lever; a

'the' lever 24 away from the stall" 12- atthe l lio chain secured toj said ysecond named sheave wheel, passing around? said' itirs'tvnamed sheave. wheel and having itsV opposite ends coiinectedto the brake mechanism proper, andsaid chain windingmeans respectively'.

3. In a handbrake, the combination Vwith chain winding means; of alever pivoted to a i'iite'd siipportat one end, said-lever being adapted toswing to normal position underl the influence `ot gravity; a sheave wheel mounted at the Ytree end ot' said lever; a

Y second sheave wheel mountedV between the ends of said lever; a brake chainpassed successively around said sheave wheels, said chain having one end secured to the winding means and the other end secured to the brake mechanism proper; and a stop orholding the lever in normal release position.

4. ln a hand brake7 the combination with a chain winding means; of a lever pivoted at one end; a plurality of guide rolls rotatably mounted on said lever; one ot said rolls being located near the pivot point ot the lever; a

locking dog for positively preventing rotation ot said last named roll in one direction; and a chain extending about said rolls, and from one roll to the other; said chain having one end secured to said chain winding means windingmeans and the other end connected to the brake mechanism proper.

`6. In a hand brake, the combination with a chain winding means; of a fixed support; a lover pivoted at one end to said support; guiding rolls rotatably mountedV on said lever, said rolls being located at diilerent dis` tances from the pivoted end of said lever; a locking dog pivoted on said iXed support and co-acting with the roll nearest the pivoted end of the lever to lock said roll against movement in one direction; means coacting with said dog tor holding the same disengaged from said roll when the brakes are released; chainextending about said rolls and from one roll to the other; said chain having one end connected to the chain winding means; and the other end connected to the brake mechanism proper; whereby upon operation ot said winding means; a quick talre-up et the chain is first effected and the lever is thereafter swung about its pivot, thereby increasing the effective ratio or leverage ot said means and bringing the roll nearest the pivot of the lever in engagement with said locking dog. Y

7. In a hand brake for railway cars, the combination with a chain winding means; ot a pair ot' `chain guides; means tor holding said guides fixed distance apart and supporting the same tor simultaneous move-l nient towards and away from said winding means; one o'l said guides having greater movement than the other; and a chain having one end connected to said windingr means, said chain extending about said guides and from one guide to the other and having itsother end secured to the brake mechanism proper, whereby upon operation ots-aid winding means to wind the chain, the chain is lirst drawn over said guides to take up the slack, and upon increased tension being set up in the brake mechanism, the guides are moved toward said winding means thereby increasing the ell'ective ratio of leverage of said means.

8. In a hand brake mechanism for cars, having a bra-ke. rigging proper; the combina.- tion with a manually operable member; of a lever pivotedto the car structure; a ilexible element attached at one of its ends to the brake rigging proper; movable ileXible element receiving means mounted on said lever adjacent the pivot thereof and to which said element is attached; and a chain interposed between said manually operable member and said flexible element receiving means on said lever; operative to initially actuate said ileXible element receiving means to increase tension on said element and, after a predetermined degree of ten sion is obtained in said element, to swing the lever bodily.

9. ln a hand brake for cars having a brake rigging the combination with a manually operable member; of a lever pivoted to the car-structure; a flexible element attached at one end to the brake rigging proper; rotatable means mounted on said lever around which said element is adapted to be wound; a flexible element between said member and the tree end ot the lever, operative to pullsaid tree end ot the lever away from the brake rigging proper; and means operative to arrest rotation of said rotatable means after said lever has been swung a predetermined amount.

' l0. In a hand brake mechanism for a car, having a brake rigging proper; the combination with a manually operable rotatable member; ot a lever pivoted to the car struc ture; a chain attached at one end to the brake rigging proper; a chain winding` sheave rotatably mounted on said lever and to which said chain is attached; a chain attached at one end to'said rotatable manually operable member and leading to the `free end of the lever and attached to said sheave; said sheave being rotated when the manually operable member is rotated and tension is applied to the second named chain, said second named chain also being- Vadapted to pull the tree end ot the lever in a direction away from the brake rigging proper.

1l. In a hand brake 'for cars having a brake rigging proper, the combination with a manually operable rotatable member; of a chain xedly Vattached at one end to said member and at its other end to the brake rigging proper; a sheave Wheel over which' seid chain passes; a second eheave Wheel over which the chain passes; and a lever on which said Yshezive Wheels are mounted, 'whereby said second named shezive Wheel is adapted to move bodily when the lever Swings. i V

12. In a, hand` brake for cars having lL brake rigging proper, the combination With Y Y L manually operable rotatable member; of

a chain attached it one end to Said member and at its other .end'to thebrake rigging proper; a sheave `Wheel Vover which seid chain passesya'seeond sheeve Wheel over Whiehithe chain passes, and a lever on which both of said slxeeve Wheels areniounted, said sheeve wheelsheing arranged so that said second named sheave Wheelis adapted to Vmove bodily when the 'lever swings.

In Witness `that Ivclaim Jche foregoing' l have hereunto Subscribed my name this 2ndv day of January 1923. 1 Y y JOHNF. OCONNOR. 

